Saturday, November 19, 2011

When it comes to making babies, nobody does it better than Black folks. In fact, 19 percent of all Black teenagers, aged 15-19, become pregnant each year, compared with only 8 percent of White teens. Because Black teens are giving up educational opportunities and careers to bear babies at an age when they are still "babies themselves," this "baby boom" has caused nationwide concern about the future of Black America. Less well known--but just as critical to the future of Black America--is the "baby bust" occurring among older Black couples, aged 25-44. At a time when they have the maturity and financial means to establish and nurture strong families, many Black couples are finding that they simply cannot have children. The truth is, when it comes to making babies, African-American couples in the 25-44 age group are discovering that the much-vaunted myth of Black fertility is just that--a myth.

The National Center for Health Statistics, a division of the National Centers for Disease Control, notes no difference in fertility rates for White or Black women, aged 25-44. However, according to RESOLVE, a national clearinghouse and support group, infertility is actually 1.5 times higher among African-Americans than Caucasians. Infertility--defined as the inability to conceive after one year or more of intercourse without contraception--usually can be treated and reversed. In fact, of the 5.3 million infertile couples in the U.S. who seek treatment two-thirds are able to have children.

A major problem is that Black couples often fail to get diagnosed and treated for infertility. As Dr. O'Delle M. Owens, a Black doctor who was Cincinnati's very first board-certified fertility specialist and who has been the director of Reproductive Endocrinology at the city's Christ Hospital since 1986, explains, "White couples tend to seek treatment for infertility in greater numbers than Blacks. For White couples, infertility is often the first roadblock they've faced--while Blacks are distracted by such primary roadblocks as food, shelter and clothing." Another problem is failure to get early diagnosis and treatment of diseases that often lead to infertility.

World of Surrogacy has created a foundation for the children of surrogates in India. Our mission along with that of many other countries is to help the children of surrogate mothers throughout the diaspora of India to achieve an education, so that their children will not have to walk the same path.

Please stay with us over the coming months and watch us grow................